VIETNAM Veterans’ Day honours the service and sacrifice of those who served in Australia’s longest conflict of the 20th century. For Australia, the Vietnam War began in 1962 when 30 members of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam arrived in South Vietnam to provide military training to local units.
Over the next 10 years, Australian forces fought in fierce battles, most notably the Battle of Long Tan in 1966, the Battles of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral in 1967 and the Battle of Binh Ba in 1969.
While Australia’s participation in the war was formally declared over in January 1973, elements of the RAAF remained until 1975 assisting with evacuation operations.
By the end of the war some 60,000 personnel from the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) had served.
Tragically, 521 Australians died, and some 3,000 were wounded. We remembered them on August 18.
Many who returned from the war did so with physical and emotional scars, which remained long after the war and the effects of which often extended to their loved ones.
Our Vietnam veterans recognised the need for additional support, establishing a dedicated counselling service that provides specialised mental health and support services to all veterans and their families.
This was known as the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service, but today is known as the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service.
As a nation we owe you our thanks for this vital service that continues to support veterans and their families, and which will be an enduring legacy of our Vietnam veterans. Thank you for your service. Lest we forget.
Darren Chester, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
SAVE MARGARET’S FARM
My late husband Jeff and his family were great friends with Margaret and her family. Why can’t developers be made to allocate land in forward planning to accommodate infrastructure such as this rather than threaten our precious irreplaceable heritage? A sewerage treatment plant has other site options.
Carole Casswell via Facebook
I know Margaret. She is a bit of a history buff. Inside her house is a history time capsule. Such a beautiful property which I think has family graves on it as well, let’s hope common sense is the winner.
Lindsay Love via Facebook
Miss Hawkins definitely has my support! This homestead and farm are an important part of our local history. It must be saved.
Sally Tea Tyler via Facebook
